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GUILHEM Herd : High quality Genetics
POPULAIR is a Charolais bull with a very fitting name. Known and appreciated by
breeders both in France and abroad, this 2006 « Maternal Qualities Champion » was
born at the farm of Jean-Marc GUILHEM, in the Saône & Loire department (71). UNIBLOC,
another bull originating from this farm, has also recently entered the selection
program of Gènes Diffusion as one of the leading bulls of this year’s autumn release.
We pay a visit to the breeder of these two bulls which are featured in the Charolais
Optimal catalogue.
Jean-Marc
GUILHEM, who established his farm 32 years ago, is not your usual kind of breeder.
This administrator at Coop Evolia was born in Lyon, and laid the basis for his herd
by buying so-called « Bulier » cows, named after the salesman who sold the cows
at the time.
Generally, the genetic program of the farm is based on three main objectives: growth,
calving ease and maternal qualities. « They are excellent cows for breeding, »
explains Denis FARADJI, sire analyst at Coop Evolia and responsible for the matings
in the herd. Among the Charolais bulls that were used in the 2008-2009 campaign,
we find bulls such as SUEDOIS, TOULON, SYDNEY and already SISTERON (on contract cows). With respect to
the selection program, Jean-Marc GUILHEM has also shown interest in the Polled bulls,
realizing matings with future cracks such as ZARP SC and UNO SC.
POPULAIR, a bull which confirms
Born
on the 2nd day of December 1999, POPULAIR comes from the outcross combination of HABIT x BLASON – « which kept all his promises, » as can
be read in the various Charolais Optimal catalogues. This HABIT son, to be used
on mature cows, is a transmitter « with excellent type and growth potential »
explains Denis FARADJI. Based on farm test figures of more than 8,600 calves (!),
the quality and precision of his breeding values don’t need any further confirmation.
POPULAIR also distinguishes himself with the growth at 24 months of the females
at farms, as is confirmed by 1,500 females to date. His first IBOVAL results have
already confirmed the exceptional quality of the bull, with no less than 107 points
AVel. His ALait value – that should arrive in the spring of 2010 – so far looks
very good as well. « Honestly, this is a bull that will make an impression, »
foresees the Charolais sire analyst.
The
family that produced POPULAIR has started with the foundation cow Jeunette, bought
at Agonges in the first years of the farm’s existence. At that time she was mated
with VALENTIN, a NUPTIAL son born at the farm. This combination produced the cow
Dalila, who in turn was mated with BLASON to produce the famous Justice cow, POPULAIR’s
dam. « With this family I never have had any problems, not a single Caesarean or
abortion, » confirms Jean-Marc GUILHEM. Growth being his main focus, the
breeder has succeeded in getting all females in POPULAIR’s family calving as 2-year-olds.
Justice was a « pretty girl », much in demand, who realized an impressive
production. Between 1996 and 2005 this BLASON daughter was at the origin of 21 products,
among which, of course, POPULAIR, born in 1999. Justice was used extensively as
an embryo donor and has seen her embryos being exported all over the world: to the
United States, Equator, Ireland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway…
UNIBLOC, the ideal bull to produce high quality females
Just
like his colleague POPULAIR, in 2009 also UNIBLOC has been awarded the title « Maternal Qualities
Champion ». Although he can only be used on heifers, this OHIO x IMPAIR son is close to perfection. Judge for yourself:
He corresponds with the sire line that brings easy calving for heifers. To that
he adds some of the best capacities for growth and conformation at weaning, which
explains his outstanding ISEVR level (118). As for his fattening abilities, these
are guaranteed by his total index of 109 for this trait. « He is an all-round bull,
» says Denis FARADJI, to which he adds that he « also very well maintains his
milk value level ».
The family behind UNIBLOC started with a female that was bought when Jean-Marc GUILHEM
established his farm. After that female, various bulls have played their part to
create a reliable, high quality basis: OHIO x IMPAIR x DAF x CAMELEON x TOUTOU x
JISCARD x HUSSARD. As with the family behind POPULAIR, the farmer has fared equally
well with the various combinations in this family. The Rosalie cow, UNIBLOC’s dam,
is still part of the herd. « The cow is a good representative of the breed, shows
great beef qualities and is very dairy as well. As for production, she has always
produced above farm average, » comments her breeder.
According to Denis FARADJI, « Rosalie is a cow that can
still produce some interesting offspring. She will be reassessed to have her genetics
distributed in the form of embryo offers to enrich the selection base, »
says the Charolais specialist. As if to prove that, Rosalie has recently been flushed
to TEMPO, a combination that promises a calf with a very attractive pedigree: LAKANAL
x CASAOR. « Rosalie’s genetic level is like her production: very consistent and successful,
» adds Denis FARADJI.
Exactly the right cows
Maybe
because of his unusual profile (Jean-Marc GUILHEM does not come from an agricultural
background) the breeder has decided to use genetics to build up a herd which, today,
has become a point of reference in the world of Charolais. The breeder has had faith
in his AI cooperative, that helped him choose the right matings to build a herd
with high genetic value. Being the passionate breeder that he is, Jean-Marc GUILHEM
continues to produce audacious genetics by making very original combinations, such
as, for example, using SYDNEY on heifers. The genetic level obtained via breeding
allows him to make such combinations for, as Denis FARADJI explains, « he has the
kind of cows with which you can do that ».
UNIBLOC video
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